Video Games During Adolescence – Being Parents

Since their arrival,  video games have occupied an increasingly important place among young people. Indeed, video games during adolescence represent one of the most popular forms of entertainment. So we understand why parents sometimes worry about the effect they can have on the minds of their children.

Nowadays there are video games with all kinds of themes. For example, sports competitions like football or basketball, action games, platform games, strategy games, etc. Some of them are violent. Parents are therefore advised to pay attention to their children’s games and then keep control of their actions.

It’s a fact that  teenagers consume a lot of video games. More and more people prefer to play on their console rather than watch a movie, read or listen to music.

The ability to have fun, take on challenges, and play online with people from all over the world are some of the reasons that led to the passion for video games as a teenager.

The importance of video games during adolescence

This type of distraction occupies an extremely important role in the lives of young people for several reasons:

1. Competition

First of all, for teenagers, video games represent an option to feel that they have mastered something. They are a real challenge for players, and provide a sense of accomplishment when the results are favorable.

Indeed, the fact of achieving goals, progressing and overcoming the challenges of the game, in addition to having a good level of competition,  can bring a significant degree of confidence. Plus, they provide constant feedback through leaderboards, wins, and progress bars. This then makes the objectives more tangible.

2. Socialization

Believe it or not,  video games are a great tool for socializing. Even though most of them are played individually, their use is part of a new common culture among young people. They exchange games, talk about it at recess, etc.

In addition, thanks to online games, the possibilities of meeting other players from all over the world have increased exponentially.

3. Adolescents actively participate in the activity

One of the most motivating factors for adolescents is to be actively involved in something and  to be primarily responsible for the development of actions.

Unlike movies or series that they can watch on television,  video games force the player to lead the action and face challenges on an individual basis.

“The teenagers complain that there is nothing to do, but then they spend the whole night playing video games”

-Bob Phillips-

4. Diversion

Finally, it is obvious that  fun is one of the fundamental elements  that lead adolescents to spend hours in front of video games. Being able to play with a console or computer means that they can take their mind off their minds and focus only on that activity. In addition to the pleasure that it provides, video games help them to forget the pressure they are under.

Some advice on the use of video games during adolescence

It is very likely that your youngster will spend many hours – certainly too much – playing games. If so, be aware that it is very difficult to completely reduce the number of hours.

However, you can take into consideration some tips to improve the use of video games by your children:

• Show interest in knowing  the types of games your children enjoy.
• If possible, do not put the console in your teen’s bedroom.
• Monitor your teen’s media consumption,  whether it’s television, video games or the internet.
• Set time limits  on it.
• Monitor internet usage  with your child to see what games they can play online.
• Share information about some games with other parents.

Finally, remember that they  play a fundamental role during adolescence  given their popularity, benefits and risks.

It is therefore necessary to  control the time spent on video games as well as the type of content consumed by your children. It is indeed advisable to avoid aggressive or violent games or games that are not suitable for their age.